Parties afraid to upset middle-class voters over college fees

WHAT do Enda Kenny, Mary Harney, Pat Rabbitte and Joe Higgins have in common? In any other week this question might sound like a riddle. This week the answer is more obvious — they are all opposed to the re-introduction of third-level fees.

Strange as it may seem, the guardians of the Cosgrave/O'Higgins flame, Ireland's new Labour Social Democrats, the right wingers of the Progressive Democrats, and even the leader of the country's only socialist party, are all jumping to the defence of the wealthiest sectors of Irish society and their supposed right to send their children to college free of charge. The extent of cross-party opposition to the return of these fees could be because it would be wrong but maybe it is just because all these parties are afraid to upset their middle-class support.

Ironically, it is left to Fianna Fáil, or at least pockets on the left wing of Fianna Fáil, to argue the case for real steps to be taken to advance the cause of access to third-level education for the children of lower middle class, working class and welfare recipient families.